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Deployed tanker makes maintenance 'pit stop' in Germany

Air Mobility Command News

Release Date: 5/28/2003

Tech Sgt. Ruby Zarzyczny 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

RHEIN-MAIN AIR BASE, Germany (AMCNS) -- A KC-135 crew from the 321st Expeditionary Airlift Squadron brought a team of six maintenance specialists with them from their forward operating location in the desert for a May 10 pit stop here so they could perform in-tank fuel system maintenance away from their normally harsh environment. The 726th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron team at Rhein-Main gave the visitors a helping hand with the process.

Tech. Sgt. Neal Freeman, deployed with the 321st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., said performing maintenance in place would have been difficult at best.

"It would be like performing open heart surgery on the beach," he said.

The maintenance airmen have kept the air refueling aircraft flying in spite of sandstorms and other harsh desert conditions at the base referred to by many in theater as "Moon Base Alpha."

The 321st EARS has passed approximately 17 million pounds of jet fuel since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to Capt. Kevin Davis, 321st EAMXS maintenance officer, also deployed from March. The squadron has accomplished more than 300 sorties refueling U.S. and coalition aircraft.

The Guardsmen and Reservists who make up most of the maintenance personnel assigned to the 321st EAMXS understand the importance of the mission.

"Even though we're not dropping bombs and we're 1,500 miles away from the fight, we know they couldn't complete the mission without our gas." said Tech. Sgt. Chris Warren, a fuel systems specialist deployed from Tinker AFB, Okla. "Knowing this makes me feel like what we're doing is important and vital to the accomplishing the mission in all the operations."

While members of the crew were at Rhein-Main, they were able to enjoy the comforts of civilization.

"Rhein-Main is the best place to be because of all the amenities like the commissary, BX, laundry and private showers," said Sergeant Freeman.

The visiting airmen headed back to their deployed location May 18.